Book Review- THE DARK CALLING by Kresley Cole

Omg y'all!!!! I am so excited to be able to share this review with you today! I have been dying to read this book and was lucky enough to get a copy a few days early from Kresley to post my review before release day! Check out my review below. I have so  much to say about this book and series so be warned it's going to be a long post! 

Title:THE DARK CALLING (The Arcana Chronicles Book 6)

Author: Kresley Cole

Release Date: February 13, 2018

Publisher: Valkyrie Press

Format: Paperback, eBook

Source: eBook from the Author

Rating: Obsessed!!!!!!!!!!!

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon eBook | Barnes & Noble| iBooks 

New intrigues, adventures, and stunning revelations fill the penultimate installment of #1 New York Times best-selling author Kresley Cole’s electrifying Arcana Chronicles.

In a world teetering on the edge . . .
When Evie receives life-changing—and possibly game-changing—news, she has trouble believing it. Why doesn’t she feel any different? Is it possible someone she trusts might be lying?


With enemies at every turn . . .
Tensions seethe inside the castle of lost time as Evie starts to doubt her own sanity. Answers can be found outside their stronghold, but will Death help her find them—or prevent her from learning the truth about her future and Jack’s possible survival?


Darkness beckons. 
A mysterious, sinister power begins to affect the Arcana in its path. Forced out into the wasteland alone, Evie must depend on unexpected allies. But as a battle with Richter looms, can her new alliance defeat the Dark Calling before hell reigns on earth?

I'm going to start this by saying that Simon Teen seriously messed up when they decided to stop publishing this series, I mean book 5 made the NYT Bestseller list for Pete's sake and Kresley is an amazing author. I think this series is way better than some of the other ones that Simon Teen keeps publishing and probably should've cancelled years ago (not mentioning names but I think y'all know who I'm talking about).

It's been TWO LONG YEARS between Arcana Rising and this one and I thought I would've forgotten so much about this series but, surprisingly I didn't and reading THE DARK CALLING was like sitting down to catch up with an old friend who I had missed dearly. It's super funny too because when I read book 1, Poison Princess back in 2012 I absolutely hated the first 13 chapters of the book lol but, after chapter 13, I fell in love with the characters and the world and my love story with this series has only grown stronger with each book!


Ok on to the actual review!

Wow! Just wow! I swear each book in this series gets better and better! I really can't say much seeing as the book just released and not many people have read it. But just know that most of your questions will be answered (no I will not answer them for you). We do find out who the inactive card is and that card plays a HUGE part in this book. There will be more death but I'm not saying who and yes there's more romance and Evie will be tested like never before. I'm so glad this one didn't end on a bad cliffhanger like Arcana Rising did. And I really hope we don't have to wait two more years before the next installment comes out because I don't think my heart would be able to take that! Also I've decided I'm Team #WhyChoose lol



Haven't started the series yet? Now's a great time!

Book Review- ARCANA RISING by Kresley Cole

Title:ARCANA RISING (The Arcana Chronicles Book 4)

Author: Kresley Cole

Release Date: August 15, 2016

Publisher: Valkyrie Press

Format: Paperback, eBook

Source: eBook from the Author

Rating: Obsessed!!!!!!!!!!!

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble| iBooks

Losses mount and deadly new threats converge in this next action-packed tale of the Arcana Chronicles by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole. 

When the battle is done . . . 
The Emperor unleashes hell and annihilates an army, jeopardizing the future of mankind--but Circe strikes back. The epic clash between them devastates the Arcana world and nearly kills Evie, separating her from her allies.

And all hope is lost . . . 
With Aric missing and no sign that Jack and Selena escaped Richter's reach, Evie turns more and more to the darkness lurking inside her. Two Arcana emerge as game changers: one who could be her salvation, the other her worst nightmare.

Vengeance becomes everything.
To take on Richter, Evie must reunite with Death and mend their broken bond. But as she learns more about her role in the future--and her chilling past--will she become a monster like the Emperor? Or can Evie and her allies rise up from Richter's ashes, stronger than ever before?

Ok so I'm sure this is going to be a rambling review because I just finished this book and I can't seem to form a coherent thought after that "OMG did that just happen?!?!" ending! But I need to write this review now with all the feelings I am having. I don't know how much of a review it'll be though since EVERYTHING in this book is huge and spoilery!

I truly believe that each book in this series just gets better! Kresley has an amazing way of sucking me right back into this world and crushing me, then making me smile and swoon, then absolutely obliterating me with feelings I never thought I'd feel reading a book! My heart beat so hard in certain chapters I thought I might be having a heart attack (no joke I had to stop and check my pulse a few times).  So what can I tell you? Of course Evie is back but not unscathed, some people are dead (no I will not say who), some people are alive (same as above), and we meet some new Arcana (although if you've read Day Zero you've already met them). Bagmen are a little less creepy (but still creepy), oh and we finally get to meet Evie's grandma, and we learn there's more Arcana in the game than we thought.

Man this book kicked my ass! In a good way and now I am going to be struggling until Spring of 2017 waiting for the next book! And praying the publication date doesn't get moved to later!


Haven't started the series yet? Now's a great time!

Top Ten Tuesday (77)- My Top Ten Book Covers I Wish I Could Redesign

Hi thanks for stopping by!!! And welcome to my Top 10 Tuesday post! 

Thanks to the lovely ladies at The Broke And The Bookish for creating this weekly meme!

Here's this week's topic.

August 9: Top Ten Tuesday REWIND-- go back and do a topic you missed over the years or recently or a topic you really want to revisit.

I chose a topic from April 2011, Book Covers I Wish I Could Redesign. These are all books I've read, loved, and hated the covers or books that I've read that had an amazing original cover that the publisher decided to redesign and was an awful redesign.

I'll add book covers so click on the cover to be taken to their Goodreads links. Also if the cover is a redesign I'll post both the original cover and the bad redesign. You'll notice that all the redesigns I hate are Penguin or Simon & Schuster redesigns. I have no idea why they feel the need to redesign perfectly good book covers.

1. I just recently read this one and I really enjoyed the story! I can't stand this cover though.

2. Loved this story but man do I hate this cover something fierce!

3. Ok here's one that's gone through a cover change. There was nothing wrong with the first and it's by far my favorite.

Original Cover

New Cover

4. Another Andrea Cremer book. Such a good book and such an ugly cover.

5.  Another redesign I hated. But I am obsessed with this series!

Original Cover

 New Cover

Original Cover

New Cover

6. Another bad redesign. I loved this book too!

Original Cover

New Cover

7. And one last Andrea Cremer one which had a horrid redesign. Book 2 was redesigned as well but I didn't like that original cover.

 Original Cover

New Cover

8. And I think these are the worst offenders when I comes to redesigns! I feel really bad for the author too! Talk about a bad knock off of the Throne of Glass Covers!

 Original Cover

New Cover

  Original Cover

New Cover

  Original Cover

New Cover

9. I love this series but this redesign really made me upset. The original covers were so pretty! 

Original Cover

 New Cover

Original Cover

 New Cover

10. And last but not least! I lost count how many redesigns this series went through and I still think the original cover for book 1 was the best!

Original Cover

New Cover 1

 New Cover 2

 Original Cover

 New Cover 1

 New Cover 2

So what about you? What are some covers you wish you could redesign? And check back next week for my Top Ten Books With X Setting (top ten books set near the beach, top ten book set in boarding school, top ten books set in England, etc)! 

Hugs,

Jaime

Top Ten Tuesday (76)- My Top Ten Books I'd Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed Me A Fully Loaded Gift Card

Hi thanks for stopping by!!! And welcome to my Top 10 Tuesday post! 

Thanks to the lovely ladies at The Broke And The Bookish for creating this weekly meme!

Here's this week's topic.

August 2: Ten Books I'd Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed Me A Fully Loaded Gift Card

This one is a tough one to keep to just 10! Also I'll be adding books that aren't out yet lol it's my wishlist! 

I'll add book covers so click on the cover to be taken to their Goodreads links.

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So what about you? What are some of your favorite books set outside of the US? And check back next week for my Top Ten Tuesday REWIND where I will post a Top Ten list I missed from previous years! 

Hugs,

Jaime

Book Review- DAY ZERO by Kresley Cole

Title: DAY ZERO (The Arcana Chronicles Book 3.5)

Author: Kresley Cole

Release Date: August 1, 2016

Publisher: Valkyrie Press

Pages: 174
Format: Paperback, eBook

Source: eBook from the Author

Rating: Obsessed!!!!!!!!!!!

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble| iBooks

Arcana means secrets, and these Arcana Chronicles short stories from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole are filled with them. Experience firsthand the beginning of the end and behold the apocalypse through the eyes of characters you only thought you knew.

Ashes to ashes . . .
Evie Greene's story of the Flash is just one of many. All over the world, those connected in some way to the lethal Arcana game--like Death, Jack, and Fortune--must first survive a horrifying night of blood and screams.

We all fall down.
Some will have to grapple with new powers; all will be damned to a hellish new existence of plague, brutality, desolation, and cannibalism. Find out who they lost, why they endure, and what they sacrificed in order to live past Day Zero. . . .

I'm not normally a huge fan of novellas or companion guides which this book is, both actually. But damn I really loved getting a glimpse at all the Arcana and their attributes! As well as small snippets of their lives right before and as the apocalypse happened! I found myself liking characters I didn't really care for in previous books. And just give it up Kresley! Jack is the inactivated card lol also seeing Aric before the apocalypse just made me love him more!

I'm not going to go into detail in this review because everything would be too spoilery even little details would give stuff away. Just know that this is an amazing addition to the Arcana Chronicles that fans of the series need grab on release day and devour before ARCANA RISING comes out on August 15th! Thanks so much to Kresley for the review copy!


Haven't started the series yet? Now's a great time!

Giveaway- POISON PRINCESS by Kresley Cole Signed!!!!!

I am so excited to be able to share this with you! With the novella and book 4 of The Arcana Chronicles coming out in August I have teamed up with Kresley Cole for a Giveaway! Kresley has signed FIVE copies of POISON PRINCESS for some lucky winners! Are you new to the series? Well this is a great way to start it and if you're already a fan who wouldn't want a signed edition for their bookshelves!

Haven't heard of POISON PRINCESS? Check it out!

Title: Poison Princess

Author: Kresley Cole

Release Date: October 2, 2012

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces The Arcana Chronicles, post-apocalyptic tales filled with riveting action, the dark mysticism of Tarot cards, and breathtaking romance.She could save the world—or destroy it.                                                                                                     Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.                                                                                                           But she can’t do either alone.                                                                                                                      With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?                                                                                                       Who can Evie trust?                                                                                                                                                As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

Here's a little snippet from POISON PRINCESS :)

“You’re not going in!”

In answer, he pulled his shirt over his head, revealing rigid planes of muscles. Yes, I’d caught glimpses of him shirtless before—but this was the first time I’d utterly lost my breath looking at him.

His face and his broad chest were still tanned, his eyes seeming to glow in the moonlight. That onyx rosary around his neck glinted with his movements.

He was stripping before my eyes, yet I couldn’t look away. I bit my bottom lip. 

Any minute I would turn my back. Any minute…

As he began to unbuckle his belt, his stomach muscles rippled.

I grew weak in the knees. Any minute—

When he reached his zipper, he cocked his head and met my gaze.

I was frozen, could do nothing but stare. He raised his eyebrows at me in challenge, his fingers inching his zipper down.

A second after I’d finally found the presence of mind to turn my back, I heard his belt buckle ping on the tile floor, the rustle of his dropped pants. Eyes wide, I snapped, “This is foolish, Jackson—“

In the space of a heartbeat, he’d snagged my pack off my back, looped an arm around my waist—and hauled us both into the pool.

Are you excited??? Here's the giveaway details!

5 winners will receive a signed copy of POISON PRINCESS, US Only!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Haven't read the other books in the series? Grab them now! And pre-order the books coming out in August!

Top Ten Tuesday (69)- My Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year

Hi thanks for stopping by!!! And welcome to my Top 10 Tuesday post! 

Thanks to the lovely ladies at The Broke And The Bookish for creating this weekly meme!

Here's this week's topic.

June 14: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year 

I'm going to show the book covers for this (so click on them and it'll take you to the goodreads page).

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So what about you? What are some upcoming 2016 books you can't wait for? And check back next week for my Top Ten Favorite 2016 Releases So Far This Year he Year!

Hugs,

Jaime